Sylvia Ledesma has been at John Muir since 1986.  Although she’s taught 3^rd through 6^th grades, many of those years were spent as a 4^th grade teacher heading up the Salmon in the Classroom program and preparing students for the WASL.  This year she is putting her experience to use in Muir’s Safety Net program teaching special classes in literacy and math to 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th graders.

Her BA degree in English and teaching certificate were earned from the University of Washington.  She followed that with a Master’s Degree in Education with an emphasis in Curriculum Development.  Her Master’s research centered on exploring how the brain learns as well as how to create brain compatible curriculum and classroom environments.  “I love to empower students with the understanding of how their brains learn and to help them see how to make their great brains even greater!  I strive to share my passion for learning and my insatiable curiosity in hopes that these will rub off on my students.”

Her daughter, Emily, is a John Muir graduate and is currently studying to become a veterinarian.  She’ll soon be transferring from Cascadia Community College to the University of Washington.  They have 8 parrots, 3 cats, an aquarium (set up in her classroom!), and 2 dogs.  Sylvia breeds golden retrievers as well as shows and competes with them in AKC events!  They also love the San Juan Islands where they spend as much time as possible each summer with their parrots and goldens.